The Kamangu – Volume 1, Issue 2

Skip a Heartbeat

As the dry season takes effect, we have more and more visits of the local wildlife. Our camp is starting to flood with all the different animals looking to make use of the resources in our camp.

From the ever-present monkeys to the injured hippo, all are coming for their own reasons.

This is only the start and so much more excitement is expected for this season.

Two weeks ago, it was my turn to almost walk into one of the elephant bulls that usually hangs around in the camp.

It was dark and I was on the way home, coming around the corner I almost walked straight into his backside, it is moments like this that just reminds you of how vulnerable we humans are. The sheer size of this enormous animal unexpected within 2m from you is enough to let you skip a heartbeat! Luckily, he was in a calm mood and I had time to backtrack and find another way home.

In 10 years – I want to Guide in Tanzania or Kenya. In 50 years – I want to teach conservation of animals.

My favourite game as a kid was football, position 11, I started watching it when I was young.

Jokes make me laugh.

A guest told me I “was doing a good job.”

Meet the Wildlife Herd

John, a Guide & a Barman.

Started working on Herman’s personal plot, away from Wildlife Camp. I was slashing and cleaning the groundBefore joining Wildlife Camp, I also worked at Mfuwe Lodge, Nsolo Camp, and Zungulila.

I’m single and have no children.

Grew up in Fwalu village (Mfuwe), it was some kind of hard life. In grade 7, my mom passed. My uncle in Mfulila passed in a road accident.

I wanted to be a teacher and was on my way to my uncle’s place to learn, then he passed. I also wanted to be a wildlife police officer. In school, my teachers, Joan Banda (now Petauke headteacher) and Mr. Mkumbi (now in Lusaka N.P.), helped me. I was in Chipembele Conservation Club.

Childhood nickname, “MAFF=DIZZO”

Being a guide, I have a passion to conserve wildlife, looking after them as resources, which brings people in Zambia money, and a way to escape the village. It brings people’s retaliations to an end against wildlife. The government could help this.

The best part of my job is being outdoors, meeting different people, learning a lot of things, and conserving wildlife.

Big issues for guides are: a proper institution to be trained as a guide, good access to the internet/Google, and getting guests with different behaviours. When in the field, congestion of vehicles and tire punctures are issues. We can appeal to ZAWA for more loop roads.

My most embarrassing moment was when I took guests into the park and forgot to take their snacks.

My next skill is to write grade 1 exam to become a walking guide. My advice to future guides is: you need to have interest and passion in conserving wildlife, associate with fellow guides, and study hard.

Favourite off-day activity is football, I play for Mfuwe United.

A funny story about me: I was chased by an elephant, then luckily, I went behind a big tree. The elephant couldn’t see me. I said, “I am a professional in terms of hiding!”

Most people don’t know the way I became a guide, it happened so fast.

In 10 years – I want to work as an electrician, be a well-doing person. In 50 years – I might not be alive by then, or maybe very old with a walking stick.

My favourite game as a kid was football, at the winger position, now I’m a defending midfielder.

Football, and some doings of people (if they are funny), make me laugh.

A Swiss guest named Marcus went to Herman and said, “John is very fine, don’t lose him as he can take the company to the next level.”